Various

Various: PROTECT: A Benefit for the National Association to Protect ChildrenPROTECT: A Benefit for the National Association to Protect Children (2005)Fat Wreck Chords

Reviewer Rating: 5

Contributed by: William_DavidWilliam_David(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on October 18th 2005Reviewing a compilation is always odd, because it's not a band that worked on creating an entire album, but a collection of songs from a variety of bands, thrown together, usually to capitalize on a genre and make some extra cash for the label. Nonetheless, a good compilation feeds off the notoriety.

Reviewing a compilation is always odd, because it's not a band that worked on creating an entire album, but a collection of songs from a variety of bands, thrown together, usually to capitalize on a genre and make some extra cash for the label. Nonetheless, a good compilation feeds off the notoriety of the more popular bands to help sell the album, therefore getting listeners inadvertently into the lesser known bands on the comp.

In that sense, PROTECT is a good compilation. It uses names like Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba, MxPx, NOFX, Anti-Flag, and, of course, Against Me! to promote the album to punk fans. While none of the other bands are complete unknowns, it might have been a harder sell without the big names. For a good compilation that flows well from song to song and offers a wide variety of punk music, I'd give it an 8.

In addition, I give it an extra point for including 15 previously unreleased tracks out of the 26 total. How many times do we get compilations full of tracks we already know, just piled together? How many times are the "previously unreleased tracks" nothing more than a reworked version of an older song? PROTECT delivers with some new music, and on top of all this, the music is of good quality.

The comp opens with Matt Skiba's "Demons Away," which is the creepy and demented Matt Skiba everyone would expect. From there it goes into "Broken Heart's Disease" by MxPx, which isn't incredible, but it's nothing a true fan wouldn't like to have in their collection. NOFX contributes "Leaving Jesusland," and Tim Barry's "Idle Idylist" offers a condemnation of our consumer-driven culture. Did I mention Against Me! is on this album? I can't see anyone complaining about that. It's even been suggested to me that I give this album an 11 because of them. I don't know about that, but "Wagon Wheel," written by Bob Dylan, is definitely an Against Me! track. Is there anything else I can say?

But didn't I give this album a perfect 10? Oh yeah, another bonus point is for the cause. If you aren't familiar and wonder why the album is called what it is, here's your explanation. Fat Wreck Chords and Punk Voter got together to help the National Association to Protect Children. The organization is hyped up as a positive force of punk, with the single goal of protecting children from abuse. It is non-partisan, but uses the political arena to get its job done. There is more information on Protect.org if anyone is interested in further supporting the organization. All the bands that have contributed to this album believe in the cause, as it does read "All profits from this CD will be given to Protect."

I'm sure if there's just a band or two you like and want their unreleased tracks, you can probably find them somewhere on the Internet. However, if you are legitimately going to pay for only one record this year, it should be this one. There is nothing bad to say about this. The music is great, the variety is wonderful, and the cause is honorable‚?¶did I mention Against Me!? It's definitely worth the price. Plus, you'd kind of be an asshole for stealing from charity. Heathens.

Theres only one bullshit band, its the one after Dead To Me... I thought they were the only shitty band on there. Obviously names like Skiba, Cape, NOFX, and Against Me! will sell comps, but the songs I found to be the best were the contributions from The Falcon, Teenage Bottlerocket, Dead To Me, The Ergs, and The Arrivals. And its for a good cause, so get it! Did I mention that Dead To Me is pretty much the shit?

As much as I love Against Me!, and thats a fucking lot, their song doesen't compare to the original. To stripped down, and Tom's voice just doesen't work with the song. First let down from them ever, in my eyes. I think I can forgive them.

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

VitusTinnitus,

I saw Old Crow Medicine Show in Gainesville a few months back. It was, without a doubt, the GREATEST show I have ever seen. You'll have a blast.

Wasn't NOFX's "Leaving Jesus Land" already released on the 7' of the month club? I thought those tracks were supposed to be exclusive...WTF?

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

"Fuck the kids".
How about some new ACTUAL records, you fuckers?

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

Dear reviewer:
Please take an English refresher course at the local community college. I bet they have writing classes too. This may help you compose your thoughts more concisely.
Kind Regards,
A Reader.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

This is a great comp. I discovered a lot of really good bands I'd never heard of.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

That song The Lovekill is a pretty sold track. Tim Barry from Avail is also my hero.

this comp is pretty well put together, but in the end its still not super solid. the smoke or fire and ergs songs are the best on here, and somesongs, like the teenage bottlerocket, nofx, soviettes and jawbreaker songs would be cool if i didnt alreadyknow em. mxpx and joey cape songs were kinda dissapointing. i liked the arrivals song. the new mest album is pretty good

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

The Arrivals, Joey Cape, and Teenage Bottlerocket stand out

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

"WAGON WHEEL" IS NOT A BOB DYLAN SONG, DAMMIT

he wrote the chorus. it was for a song that never even got finished. dude from Old Crow Medicine Show wrote the verses and the melody. OCMS's version KILLS against me!'s version, but AM!s is pretty good. it could use some more instruments.

a lot of people on here like to throw the term "best band ever" around pretty loosely. and i can't believe anyone actually would call a band on fat "sellouts." for shame, kiddies.

The only reason I would buy this is for the Against Me! track, which means I'm not going to buy it.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

""However, if you are legitimately going to pay for only one record this year, it should be this one."

It is a fucking COMPILATION. Yes, its good, but not groundbreaking or everlasting. Someone needs to check the water in your hometown, there's some apparent retardation in the water."

I think he was trying to say that since the proceeds go to a good cause, if you are going to actually pay for a record this year (as opposed to downloading it for free), it should be this one since the money will go to that cause.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

Did you seriously just say that the Matt Skiba track was good? No. I'm sorry, but if anyone actually thinks that is a quality song, you must be so fucking far up that guy's ass that he couldn't shit you out if he used laxatives. Fucking terrible.

On the other hand, there are some really good songs on here. Would it have killed you to mention that the Smoke or Fire track is fucking awesome? Or how about some of the bands that aren't very big like Dead to Me, because that song is pretty damn good. The same would go for the Rusty Pistachio/Paul Delaney track.

Against Me! covered Bob Dylan. Woo! Everyone shit their pants...no, it's not a bad cover by any means, but jesus christ, stop fucking harping on the bigger bands. Of course people are going to buy this just for that song.

And you failed to mention the single-greatest track on the disc, Minus by Joey Cape. That song completely owns anything Matt Skiba will ever write. He can take his fucking "army of skeltons" and go fuck himself for that bullshit of a song.

-phdecontrol.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

Once again, Jawbreaker gets shorted because no one seems to know how to pick their songs for compilations. Chesterfield Kid on Rock Against Bush? Want on this? Imaginary War could've been perfect on BOTH of these.

-the "got together" is how the two of them are describing the collaboration, so that's how I'm describing it

-One band (MCR) does not define someone's musical taste, furthermore, trashing someone because they like a band is equally as ridiculous

-No, I'm not going to mention all the tracks, because it's not necissary, and you'd probably just go download all the stuff you wanted then anyways, and in this case, I don't think that's right, if you want one, I'm sure you can find a track listing somewhere online, I'm here to tell you if the album is good or not, and provide some examples

-Oh yeah, to who all these comments are directed at, you've never written a review on here, so I don't really value what you say, sorry

-Stevejones, I actually never mentioned Anti-Flag again when I was going through a few tracks, but instead mentioned Tim Barry. Also, I'm doing this because more people are familiar with these bands. I pick them because I want the greatest general audience to be able to read this review, I'm not picking bands that only 5 people may know, if they are fans, they can read reviews of that band's full album

-sickboi, I think I've addressed your comments about my reviewing on a previous thread, so enough said

-superdude, a choose your own adventure would really be awesome, but I don't really know how to set that up on here?

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

Thanks superdude, you talking about choose your own adventure made me find this

Surprised no one's mentioned the Communique song yet. I didn't think they were any good after seeing them live and hearing their record, but their song on this comp is great - kind of a warped Alkaline Trio sound.

with all this talk about how this uses bigger bands to draw attention to some solid smaller bands....you could have maybe mentioned some of the standout lesser known bands that caught your ear....

instead of you know, saying this uses popular names like Alkaline Trio‚??s Matt Skiba, MxPx, NOFX, Anti-Flag, and, of course, Against Me! and then going from there to describe that this comp has good tracks from Alkaline Trio‚??s Matt Skiba, MxPx, NOFX, Anti-Flag, and, of course, Against Me!

a) you write in your review you can't imagine anyone not liking the fact that against me are on this comp, yet you leave a comment to head off possible complaints about the very mention of against me.
b) you wrote that punk voter and fat wreck "got together" to do this compilation, yet the two organizations are practically one in the same. this leads me to believe you have no idea what you're talking about.
c) you like my chemical romance. this point could stand alone and still prove how fucking dumb you are.
d) for a compilation with unreleased songs from so many bands, one would think that the reviewer could be so gracious as to mention each one. afterall, each band has fans that read this site and are probably interested in those unreleased songs. thanks for leaving us in the dark.

Personally, I love it. It's one of my favorites on the album, maybe more for the lyrics than anything else. I really like the idea of it, and it sounds good too. I guess it all depends what you're into though. You might as well pick up the album and check it out though, there is so much that's "worth it" on here.

how is the tim barry track? i'm not a huge avail fan but i'm interested in hearing his solo stuff. solo records have the potential to outshine the singers full time bands (ie the foundation record blew away the ann beretta stuff)

Okay. This is a just a preemptive strike (that term alone will probably anger a few) for what comments I'm just waiting to get on this review. Oftentimes, Agaisnt Me! comes up and you get your occaisional sell out posts on here. I'm sure to be told it's a bad review because of the endless plugging of Against Me! that I did. Basically, people will likely threaten to harm me in some sick twisted way if I continue to say Against Me! Well...Against Me! My first review on this site didn't go over to well, and I got a lecture about knowing my audience. Well, there are a lot of people on here really into Against Me! and if dropping there name a bunch of times gets 10 more people to buy this record, I'm happy. It's a really great record, for a really great cause. Don't let one band ruin it for you either. If you aren't a fan of Against Me! there is still plenty on this record for you. Seriously, just buy it. Against Me!

one of the best comps of recent memory. there's really nothing bad on it, and the three acoustic tracks (skiba, joey cape and against me / dylan) are fucking phenomenal. also new hot cross and a ton of other stuff worth checking out. and, yes , great cause too!